Multiple Chronic Diseases

Patients with multiple chronic diseases are a growing problem. These people are treated with multiple drugs directed at each of the diseases. The treatments may work at cross purposes and the best that can hope to be accomplished is to slow the overall deterioration of health status. Almost always the situation is the result of various degrees of unhealthy lifestyle and it is rare for someone at this stage of illness to reverse themselves. I admire Jane Brody's observations on the matter but multiple chronic diseases in a single individual bring out the worst in the medical care system plus a sad realization of the neglect of lifestyle in health care.